Car Accident in San Francisco
Car Accident legal information specific to San Francisco — California law, local courts, and filing procedures.
San Francisco car accident guide →Legal Information Notice
This page provides general legal information about pedestrian accident accidents in San Francisco, California. It is not legal advice. Consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your case.
Pedestrian Accident in San Francisco
San Francisco has one of the highest per-capita pedestrian injury rates of any California city. Vision Zero High Injury Network corridors — Mission Street, South Van Ness, Cesar Chavez — generate disproportionate pedestrian claims. Muni vehicle strikes require a six-month SFMTA tort claim. Infrastructure defect claims against SFPW require a six-month city claim.
California Law That Applies
Veh. Code § 21950 requires drivers to yield in all marked and unmarked crosswalks. Pure comparative fault allows recovery even for jaywalking pedestrians proportionally. Six-month city tort claim for SFMTA, SFPW, or City and County property claims. Two-year SOL for driver-only claims.
The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
Courts and Procedures in San Francisco
San Francisco County Superior Court. SF's compact geography means government entity infrastructure liability claims are common — cracked sidewalks, broken signals, and inadequate crosswalk markings on city-maintained streets.
Primary Courthouse
SF Superior Court — Civic Center Courthouse
400 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102 · Unlimited Civil Division
FAQs — Pedestrian Accident in San Francisco
Who is at fault when a pedestrian is hit by a car in San Francisco?
Fault depends on the crossing circumstances. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in all marked and unmarked crosswalks under Vehicle Code section 21950. California's pure comparative fault system allows recovery for jaywalking pedestrians proportionally — a pedestrian assigned 40% fault in a $100,000 case recovers $60,000 from the driver.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in San Francisco?
The statute of limitations is two years from the accident date under CCP section 335.1. Claims against the City and County of San Francisco or SFMTA require a government tort claim within six months. Minors generally have until their 20th birthday to file, though acting early preserves critical camera and physical evidence.
What damages are available in a San Francisco pedestrian accident case?
A San Francisco pedestrian accident victim can recover all economic damages (medical expenses, future care, lost wages) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement). California does not cap non-economic damages in pedestrian accident cases. Pedestrian accidents frequently produce catastrophic injuries generating substantial lifetime damages.
Also in San Francisco
Other Accident Types in San Francisco
Slip and Fall in San Francisco
Slip and Fall legal information specific to San Francisco — California law, local courts, and filing procedures.
San Francisco slip and fall guide →Truck Accident in San Francisco
Truck Accident legal information specific to San Francisco — California law, local courts, and filing procedures.
San Francisco truck accident guide →Motorcycle Accident in San Francisco
Motorcycle Accident legal information specific to San Francisco — California law, local courts, and filing procedures.
San Francisco motorcycle accident guide →Rideshare Accident in San Francisco
Rideshare Accident legal information specific to San Francisco — California law, local courts, and filing procedures.
San Francisco rideshare accident guide →Find a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in San Francisco
This page is educational. To find a licensed California attorney who handles pedestrian accident cases in the San Francisco area, use these verified directories.